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Patrick Macnee, Star of The Avengers TV Series, Dies at 93

Patrick Macnee, star of 1960s cult hit TV series The Avengers, has died at the age of 93.

The actor died on Thursday of natural causes with his family at his bedside at his home in California, according to a statement on his website.

“He was at home wherever in the world he found himself,” the statement continues. “He had a knack for making friends, and keeping them. Wherever he went, he left behind a trove of memories and good wishes.”

Macnee was born in England to a racehorse trainer father and mother who worked with military families. After serving in the coastal forces of the Royal Navy during World War II, he began acting, first appearing on London stages.

The actor was best known for portraying John Steed on the 1960s British television series, The Avengers. The spy drama made its U.S. debut in 1966 and ran for 8 seasons with Macnee appearing in all but two episodes.

The classic series was progressive in its depiction of women as equals to men. “It was the first show that put its leading man and leading lady on an equal footing, and showed a woman fighting and kicking and throwing men around,” Macnee told The Express in 2010. That was a radical departure in its time.”

His The Avengers character was also notable for his use of an umbrella rather than a gun. “Mr. Macnee became outspoken and, in later years, took every opportunity to express his disapproval of the proliferation of guns in private hands,” the statement says.

After The Avengers, Macnee appeared on Broadway and in films including A View to a Kill, The Howling, and This Is Spinal Tap. He penned two memoirs Blind in One Ear and The Avengers: The Inside Story.

He is survived by three ex-wives, two children and one grandson. He spent the last 40 years of his life in Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage, California.

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